Use Action Beats with Dialogue
An action beat is a sentence that follows a line of dialogue, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. The speaking character does something before or after their line of dialogue.
Filter Words Manipulate POV
Writers can use filter words to manipulate point of view.
Filter words “tell” readers what a character is experiencing, often via their senses.
Can You Use Song Lyrics in Books?
There’s nothing like finding the perfect song lyrics to capture a moment between characters, or to illustrate the concept you’re trying to express. But think twice before you include the song lyrics in your manuscript.
Don’t Use This Word Like That (Word Usage, 1 of 3)
Why do we confuse words and conflate their meanings?
Words to Retire (Word Usage, 2 of 3)
Our words impact our readers, so it’s important that we choose them with care.
Words That Are More Exhausted Than These Puppies (Word Usage, 3 of 3)
Let’s dig into some worn-out, tired, exhausted words, words that have become bereft of their actual meanings based on usage.
Point of View: Head hopping
Point of view is a bugaboo for many writers. Editors too.
Time Transitions in Fiction
Not acknowledging the passage of time can leave readers confused about “when” they are in the story.
Stage Directions
Readers need to know where characters are located in a scene as well as what the characters are doing.
Passive Voice
I bet almost everyone has been scolded for using passive voice, either by a teacher, a writing buddy, or an editor. Software designed to help you improve your writing, like Grammarly or Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar check, often flags text as “passive voice” and encourages you to revise.